Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah greeted citizens on Kalyana Karnataka Liberation Day on Wednesday, reaffirming his government’s commitment to the region’s all-round development.
He outlined key initiatives, budget allocations, and upcoming projects.
The Chief Minister said the occasion was a reminder of the sacrifices made by freedom fighters who fought for the liberation of Hyderabad-Karnataka from the Nizam’s rule. He recalled that while the rest of India was celebrating independence on August 15, 1947, this region was still not free. The atrocities of the Razakars, he noted, had reached unbearable limits. The region was eventually integrated into the Indian Union thanks to the determination of local heroes and the resolve of the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the then Home Minister, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. Siddaramaiah also paid tribute to several freedom fighters, including Sharanagouda Inamdar and Raja Venkatappa Nayak, calling their sacrifices "unforgettable."
Turning to development, Siddaramaiah said that since the introduction of Article 371-J in 2013, 119,923 posts have been identified for direct recruitment, with 84,620 already filled.
For the 2025–26 financial year, the state government has released ₹5,000 crore to the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB). He added that over ₹14,000 crore have been used for 41,103 works thus far, with 32,985 already completed.
Siddaramaiah also highlighted that his government had invested nearly ₹1 lakh crore in its flagship guarantee schemes. In the Kalyana Karnataka region, these schemes have yielded significant results:
On the topic of irrigation, Siddaramaiah announced that his government has approved land acquisition for Phase III of the Krishna Upper Canal Project through farmer consent. The government also plans to raise the height of the Almatti Dam. He said these decisions would provide irrigation to over 1.5 million acres across Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, and Koppal, with an investment of over ₹70,000 crore planned over the next three years.
He also announced that a Kalyana Karnataka Secretariat would be established in Kalaburagi, with a formal notification to be issued next week.
Siddaramaiah concluded by urging citizens to work together for "a new India and a new Karnataka."
Also read: Siddaramaiah lands in trouble with Hindu community remark
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